The Star Maker (1995)

One of last year's Best Foreign Film nominees is an odd, dour drama
about a movie-studio talent scout (Sergio Castellitto) scouring
Sicily for the Next Big Star. He travels from village to village
in his vehicle, announcing over megaphone the promises of rags to
riches, and then setting up his lights, camera, and action to
anyone willing to pay the 1,500 lire fee. (To cover the cost of
film and developing, he says.) The villagers all end up baring
their souls to the camera, which makes for an interesting
travelogue of local Sicilian color. (Early in the movie, however,
he has everyone reciting dialogue from GONE WITH THE WIND. In one
hilarious sequence, the camera captures the various butchered
readings of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.) Though a very well-
produced and good-looking film, THE STAR MAKER suffers on a number
of a fronts. The talent scout, for example, isn't exactly the most
likable of characters. And though his world-- and the film-- is
brightened after he meets a simple convent girl (Tiziana Lodato),
she arrives so late into the story that her presence barely makes a
difference. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore (CINEMA PARADISO).
(Rated "R"/106 min.)
Grade: C+
Copyright 1996 by Michael J. Legeros